Clean Russian oil has reached the border with Belarus via the Druzhba pipeline by midday on Monday, a Russian spokesman for Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Dzhus confirmed late Monday.
According to the Russian news agency TASS, 'As planned before, at 12:00 (09:00 GMT) on April 29 oil has reached the Druzhba pipeline’s Unecha border station,' Dzhus said in a statement.
Negotiations were held in Moscow on Monday led by Belneftekhim Deputy Chairman Vladimir Sizov with the Russian side.
Earlier Monday, Sizov said that clean Russian oil had yet to reach its borders via the pipeline.
Belarus state oil company Belneftekhim on Wednesday, April 24 halted the transit because of the poor quality of its oil, which was discovered on April 19.
Ukrainian company Uktransnaft also announced the temporary closure of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline.
By Talha Yavuz
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr